Submitted

This legislation will
prohibit the use of federal taxpayer dollars to provide a college education to
convicted criminals.

"The governor's latest
plan to fund college educations for convicted criminals using taxpayer dollars
is an insult to law-abiding citizens all across our state," Collins said. "That
is why, in response, I am introducing legislation that will ensure no federal
taxpayer dollars are used to fund higher education for criminals.

"With 60 percent of
college graduates in New York state carrying student debt, we must put our
college kids before cons."

"It is simply not fair
to ask hardworking taxpayers to pay for college for convicted criminals when
they struggle to put their own children through college," Reed said. "College
students in New York leave school with an average of nearly $26,000 in student
loans - a huge undertaking for any family. New Yorkers are faced with enough
taxes and mandates - they do not need to worry about funding college for
convicted criminals when they are trying to care for their own families."

"Families across my
district are struggling to pay for a college education for their kids, with
students carrying high levels of debt when they graduate. We can do better
than spend federal taxpayer dollars on the education of convicted criminals
when our hardworking New Yorkers need the assistance themselves," Gibson said.

As the House moves
forward with the appropriations process later this year, Collins will also
introduce a limiting rider to ensure no appropriated funds in a particular bill
are used to fund college courses for convicted criminals.

The Kids Before Cons
Act does not ban states from using federal dollars to support GED or work
training programs in prisons and correctional facilities.